Former World Championships medallist Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the first round of the Indian Open Super 750 tournament after losing to world no 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, here on Wednesday. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Srikanth lost the match 14-21, 19-21 to the Olympic Champion Axelsen, who won the Malaysia Open Super 1000 last week. This was the Indian's second straight first-round exit of the BWF World Tour 2023 season. He lost to Kenta Nishimoto of Japan at the Malaysia Open last week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After losing the opening game, Srikanth took full control of the second game, leading 12-4 and later cruised to 15-4. But the Dane made a huge recovery, taking seven straight points to reduce the scoreboard deficit. He then brought the equation to 17-18 and quickly wrapped up the match to sail into the second round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Dane will next play Shi Yu Qi of China for a place in the quarterfinals. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In other men's singles action, former world champion Singapore's Loh Kean Yew ended Kodai Naraoka's campaign with a comeback win 18-21, 21-9, 21-7 to set a pre-quarterfinal date with Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the women's singles, world no. 1 Japanese shuttler Akane Yamaguchi, who won the Malaysia Open last week, defeated Clara Azurmendi of Spain 21-7, 21-11 in just 25 minutes. In round of 16, the Japanese will take on world no. 10 Han Yue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, the world no. 5 He Bing Jiao, advanced to the pre-quarterfinals with a straight-game 21-16, 21-15 win over Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt. She will face South Korean Kim Ga-Eun in the last-16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Tuesday, Saina Nehwal and reigning India Open champion Lakshya Sen progressed to the second round of their respective events while PV Sindhu lost to Thailand's Supanida Katethong to crash out early.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, the world no. 5 He Bing Jiao, advanced to the pre-quarterfinals with a straight-game 21-16, 21-15 win over Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt. She will face South Korean Kim Ga-Eun in the last-16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n